Mashed potatoes, stuffing and other sides that come in a delightful shade of beige make Thanksgiving the great holiday that it is. Still, everything in life is better with balance — even these all-important potato- and bread-based dishes. Next Thursday, build a well-rounded Thanksgiving plate with vibrant, seasonal vegetable recipes for classic Thanksgiving side dishes.

Though the green bean casserole of years past might have meant canned cream of mushroom soup and limp green beans, Alton Brown’s Best-Ever Green Bean Casserole (pictured above) is a modern take made totally from scratch. Fresh, crunchy green beans, half-and-half and real mushrooms give the dish its distinctive flavor, while home-fried onions create the crucial crispy topping.

Wondering what your favorite chefs have up their sleeves (and in their ovens) for next Thursday? We caught up with more than a dozen Food Network stars about their unique Thanksgiving traditions with family and friends. Bobby hosts a themed Thanksgiving for 50, Alex does double-dinner duty and Guy likens his epic outdoor feast to “a shotgun wedding”. Read on and check out the full gallery for all the tasty details.

We’ll admit it. The Thanksgiving feast isn’t the most naturally photogenic of meals. With turkey, gravy, stuffing and potatoes, there’s a lot of brown and beige in the mix. To make our Thanksgiving look as good as it tastes, we’re taking a cue from food stylists who make Thanksgiving look gorgeous for a living. Yep, we’re upping our garnish game this year. Edible garnishes are the best kind, and the flavors should always complement the dish they accompany. These suggestions from Food Network Kitchen are based on both color and dish texture. Check out the full gallery for ideas to spruce up every course of the feast.

The new season of Guy’s Grocery Games is kicking off with four special family episodes, premiering Jan. 4 at 8|7c. In this family-style showdown, four teams made up of three family members will compete in each episode for a chance to win the grand prize. Each family team will have to navigate through the aisles of the grocery store, battling different supermarket-themed obstacles, from cooking on a budget to cooking with five ingredients or less — or the dreaded new game, Station Swap. The last family standing will go onto the shopping spree of a lifetime worth up to $20,000. These families know, live and love food, so don’t miss the laughs, tears and sibling rivalries.

So far on Holiday Baking Championship we’ve seen the bakers take on cookies in the premiere and just this past Sunday they made desserts inspired by sugar and spice, a classic combination. This coming Sunday the bakers will be making one of the most-iconic holiday desserts, pies. Not only that, but they’ll have to bake three different kinds to impress judges Nancy Fuller, Duff Goldman and Lorraine Pascale. But that doesn’t mean there won’t be any twists and turns in the challenge.

Ahead of the episode, vote on your favorite holiday pie and let us know in the comments why it’s your favorite.

Tune in this Sunday at 9|8c to see how the competition unfolds and who goes home for the least-successful pies.

While a glossy, juicy turkey may be a hallmark of Thanksgiving, for many the meal wouldn’t be complete without a scoop of mashed potatoes alongside it — and perhaps a few glugs of gravy on top. The beauty of mashed potatoes is that, unlike many stuffings and casseroles, spuds require only a few ingredients to prepare and they come together quickly. Check out Food Network’s go-to tips below to turn out your fluffiest batch of mashed potatoes yet, then visit Thanksgiving Central for the complete mashed potato how-to.

Most of us love gathering around the table to enjoy Thanksgiving with friends and family — and many of us even relish the work that that goes into making that big meal a memorable success. But for those looking for a shortcut to the taste of turkey and stuffing, may we introduce turkey and stuffing doughnuts.

Yup.

Just in time for the holidays, the British grocery chain Tesco has introduced a new flavor in its line of savory mini doughnuts: Turkey & Stuffing Weirdoughs.

The Thanksgiving turkey is the centerpiece of your holiday spread and has the potential to be the most-remembered component of the feast, so when it comes to picking a recipe to help you make the bird, you want one you can trust. That’s where Food Network comes in. Stick to these classic, tried-and-true recipes to transform your turkey into a holiday showstopper — best of all, each is a can-do pick from one of your favorite chefs, like Anne Burrell, Alton Brown and Bobby Flay. Read on below to get their top turkey recipes, then visit Thanksgiving Central for more holiday inspiration.

5. Big, Brined Herby Turkey — The secret to Anne’s super-moist bird is her brining method. She lets the turkey chill in a salt water-herb bath for three days so the meat has a chance to absorb flavor before it cooks.

4. Good Eats Roast Turkey — With a 5-star rating and nearly 5,000 user reviews, Alton’s no-fail turkey is the ultimate in Thanksgiving simplicity. After brining the bird, he roasts it first at 500 degrees F so it develops a golden-brown exterior, then lowers the temperature as the meat turns moist and finishes cooking.

No matter what team you root for or how it currently stands in the league, there’s one element of football surely every fan can get excited about: the food. From cheesy, beefy nachos to Buffalo-blanketed chicken wings and juicy grilled sausages, there’s a game-day pick to please every palate. Now that football season is in full swing, The Kitchen wants to hear from you, the fans, to learn your tastes when it comes to game-day fare.

A good breadbasket is a necessity on any Thanksgiving table. A warm, fluffy roll sops up the last gravy, cranberry sauce and potatoes on a plate better than any utensil ever could, and there’s nothing better for piling on leftovers than a fresh slice — especially when the bread is homemade. This year, fill up your Thanksgiving Breadbasket with cornbread, biscuits, rolls and more from your very own oven.